INTRODUCING: LE JUNK

Le Junk is on the verge of releasing his debut single ‘Rich Romance’, a frisky hybrid of icy electro drum machinations and red hot live bass-slapping. Add to that an enraged but hilarious lyrical sideswipe at the Shania Twain-loving suits he’s seen invading his beloved East London of late and you’ve got quite the cocktail of irresistibility.

Not one to be put off by the lockdown, Le Junk plays this weekend’s Balcony Festival (Saturday, May 23, 1pm – 5pm GMT) in support of the Save Our Venues campaign. Check Le Junk’ssocials for links on the day!

Tell me about your new song, ‘Rich Romance’, and the concept behind the music video.

The song is about gentrification in London, and more broadly, how the world is often set up to make way for the rich at the expense of the rest. The idea was based on witnessing my old music studio in Hackney Wick turn into luxury apartments. Hence the lyric “Let’s burn this Wick, cause that’s what it’s for”.

What was your experience like in putting the music video together?

I wanted to create something visually simple that would fit with the song’s groove and was feasible to make with next-to-no budget. With projected coloured lighting and the direction and editing of visual mastermind Steve Gullick we were able to do it.

What are your plans for the future beyond this release?

This track is just the start. I plan to release lots more material, and once restrictions are lifted and it’s safe again to play live, I’ll be taking LE JUNK on stage with a full band.

What was the first song you ever wrote?

The first song I ever wrote was when I was 13 and only wanted to sound like The Offspring.

What was it like?

A 13-year old trying to copy The Offspring.

What’s your local music scene like?

It’s hard to capture what the ‘local’ scene is like in such a big city. I feel as though the vibe among artists is a mix between eager and anxious, but people are generally supportive of each other.

How would you describe your music in five words?

You might maybe like it.

Which artists do you admire?

ABBA, Peaches, ESG, The Beatles, Iggy Pop, The Cramps, Max Martin.

What would be your dream collaboration?

I would love to work with Tonetta, but he’s also a rare creative gem that should probably be left untouched.

What’s the best band/artist you have played with so far?

I played a fun night with Meatraffle last year who were superb and strange.